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Miriam

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Biblical Character

The Resume

    Biblical Prophetess
    Sister to Moses and Aaron
    Only daughter of Amram and Jochebed
    Appears in the Old Testament books of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers
    Traditionally depicted approaching the Pharaoh's Daughter after baby Moses is discovered in a floating basket
    Proposal to find a Hebrew nurse to raise the baby serves as a means to reunite baby Moses with his mother
    Frequently depicted in art famously leading the Israelites in singing after their deliverance from the Egyptians at the Red Sea (as written in Exod. 15:20 - 21)
    Portrayed by Estelle Taylor in Cecil B. DeMille's 'Ten Commandments' (1923)
    Frequently honored in seders, including the first all-women's seder, with a ceremonial cup (usually beside the traditional cup for the prophet Elijah), along with a ritual prayer on her behalf

Why she might be annoying:

    She played the tambourine (or 'the timbrel').
    Sandra Bullock voiced her for 'The Prince of Egypt.'
    Her name, in Hebrew, translates to 'embittered.'
    Her first appearances in the Bible reference her by the name 'Puah,' confusing readers as a result.
    A growing number of theologians and translators are beginning to question whether she really followed Moses' basket in the river and spoke to the Pharaoh's Daughter, or whether it wasn't another character entirely.
    She only figures into Pentateuch, the First Five Books of Moses, a handful of times, despite being the sister of its namesake.
    In fact, the first time she is referenced by name is following following the completion of the Exodus when she grabs hold of Aaron's arm and leads the Hebrew women in a victory dance.
    God caught her and Aaron plotting against Moses and punished her with a ghost-like skin disease for seven days.
    She was the subject of a 19th-century Washington Allston painting that was criticized by Margaret Fuller as 'offensive to the eye' 'aiming at the ideal rather than direct from Nature and Beauty.'

Why she might not be annoying:

    She is a deeply personal figure in Jewish feminist circles.
    Talmudic sources depict her as outspoken to her own father, accurately predicting that her brother Moses would become the deliverer of the Jewish people out of Egypt.
    Many scholars consider 'The Song of Miriam' to be even more ancient than that attributed to Moses and the Israelites in the earlier verses of Exodus 15.
    She is identified along with Moses and Aaron as a leader of the Wilderness era, in the Book of Micah.
    Scholars have argued that there may not be a biological relation between herself, Moses, and Aaron, at all, but rather the creation of later tradition seeking to emphasize their roles in Israel's leadership.
    This possibility also suggests to many that a more extensive tradition about her story may once have existed, but have since been lost.
    The 'white as snow' passage referencing her skin condition may have indirectly inspired the 'Snow White' fairy tale.
    Feminist interpreters of the Bible have taken issue with her being punished by God for questioning Moses, but Aaron being spared, despite his doing the same thing.
    She was resourceful - following the basket carrying her brother in the river and then successfully soliciting their mother for midwife services (neither is there much reason to believe that it wasn't her).
    After her death, God allegedly opened a spring of abundant water for all, which was called Meribah - and which possessed remarkable healing powers.
    Her death coincided with the Israelites' contending with God's word, which also resulted in Moses and Aaron being prevented from ever setting foot in Canaan, the professed 'promised land.'
    Her animated counterpart in 'Prince of Egypt' got probably the best part of the whole film; the 'When You Believe' number which won Best Original Song and got jointly covered by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 21 Votes: 47.62% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 17 Votes: 41.18% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 29 Votes: 68.97% Annoying